Benedict's gentle, moderate and compassionate character is reflected in
his description of what an abbot should do:"Let him
hate sin and love the brethren. Even in his correction, let him act with
prudence and not go too far, lest while he seeks too eagerly to scrape off the
rust, the vessel is smashed. Let him keep his own frailty ever before his eyes,
and remember that the bruised reed must not be
broken."